Ear clip



1 Nov. 25, 1952 R. G. GLOSS 2,618,831

EAR CLIP Filed Dec. 31, 1949 IN VEN TOR.

A T TORNEYS-I Patented Nov. 25, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EAR CLIP Richard G. Gloss, Cranston, R. I.

Application December 31, 1949, Serial No. 136,221

2 Claims. (Cl. 24248) The present invention relates to improvements in an ear clip.

The general object of th invention is to provide a jewelry clip of the above character so constructed as to provide for readily attaching the clip in position and there firmly held without uncomfortably pinching the ar lobe.

Another object of this invention is to provide a clip of the above character so constructed as to provide a relatively large frictional bearing surface for securely frictionally holding the jaws of the clip in adjusted position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a clip of the above character having a resilient frictional holding surface positioned at a substantial radial distance from the pivot axis of the jaws of the clip.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an ear clip embodying my invention with the jaws shown in open position;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the jaws in closed position as engaging the ear of the wearer;

Figure 3 is a rear View of the clip shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a jaw supporting element;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the jaws of the clip;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along line '!--1 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a view of a blank from which the jaws shown in Figure 5 may be made.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description of the invention, I designates generally an ear clip which comprises an ornament H having any desired shape and contour, to the back of which there is attached a bracket II, th base l3 of which may be secured to the ornament such as by solder. A post 14 (see Figure 4) which is rectangular in cross section has a mounting opening [53 therein and extends from the said base 13 at generally right angles thereto and then downwardly to provide a portion I6 of a shape generally that of a quadrant of a circle with the lower side edge ll thereof extending from adjacent th said opening l at an acute angle to the plane of the base IS. The outer edge l8 of the portion I6 is curved on an are having a radius substantially coincident with the center of the opening P5. The portion I6 may be provided with an open center 19 providing marginal edge surfaces 28. The base i 3 has been shown as being rectangular in outline; however, the same may take any of various shapes appropriate to the particular design or ornament to which the base is to be attached. The ornament H and the bracket l2 in the present instance form one of the jaws of the ear clip which for purpose of description may be herein referred to as a stationary jaw of said ear clip.

The other jaw of the clip designated generally 2| (see Figure 5) comprises oppositely positioned substantially similar arms 22 which are initially spaced from each other a distance slightly less than the thickness of the post 14. The said arms are positioned to straddle said post I4 and each has an opening 23 therein which openings align with each other and with the opening [5. A pivot pin which in th present instance is shown in the form of a rivet 24 is received within the said aligned openings to pivotally relate the said arms to said post and to secure the same thereto.

The arms as previously stated are similar to each other and each is of the general quadrant shape of the said portion l6 and has a marginal edge 25 which overlies the marginal edge of the post M. The said arms are integrally connected to each other at the outer edge by a bridge 26 which resiliently relates the said arms to each other so as to permit the resilient spreading thereof both in a direction extending toward said bridge portion and in the direction extending toward the pivotal mountings thereof. An ear lobe engaging portion 21 is integrally connected to the bridge 26 and which connection is reenforced by means of a rib 28 raised from the stock of the portion 21. The jaw 2| may be made of any suitable resilient sheet material and may be first cut to the shape shown in Figure 8 to be thereafter folded to the shape shown along the score lines 29.

The inner surface of the marginal edge portion of each arm is provided at the free end portions of the arm spaced from the bridge with an inwardly extending friction surface 39 which engages the opposite marginal surfaces 23 to frictionally retain the two jaws in adjusted position. Consequently, the arms 2| are slightly flexed from a point adjacent the pivotal mounting 24 and from a point adjacent the bridge 26 when the said surfaces of the marginal edge 20 are positioned to engage the opposite friction surfaces 30. In order that these friction surfaces 30 may engage a substantial portion of the said marginal edges 20, the same are formed to be inclined so as to be substantially parallel to the adjacent surface of the marginal edges 20 when engaging such edges, These friction surfaces 30 may be provided by any suitable manufacture and may be conveniently provided as shown in the drawings by means of pads 30 raised from the stock of the marginal edge 25 of each arm. Each pad 30 is of a length substantially greater than the width thereof and extends for a substantial distance lengthwise of the said marginal edges on a slight taper as at 3| so as to conform generally to the angle formed between the said marginal edges 20 and 25 when said arms are-flexedin the direction of said bridge and then taper inwardly at an increased angle to merge with the inner surface of the said edgeportion 25 as at 32 (see Figure 7). The pads 39 also extend widthwise on a taper as at 33 on an angle conforming generally to the angle formed between the said surfaces 20 and 25 widthwise thereof when said arms are flexed in the direction of the pivot mounting 24 (see Figure 6). In the open position of the jaws, as shown in Figure l, the side edge l! of the portion lfiis out of engagement with the said friction pads 30 and the arms 22 abut against the base 13, which base 13 provides a stop to limit the opening of said jaw 21. Upon relative movement of the jaw 2| toward closing position, the edge i7 adjacent the said marginal edge 25 will engage the pad to first ride up the inclined portion 32 which will produce a flexing of the said'arms 2! in both the previously stated directions. Upon further relative movement of the jaws the marginal edges 20 will engage the surface 3! of the pads and be flexed to a maximum about the pivot as a flexing point with the surfaces of the pads engaging for substantially the entire length and width thereof against the marginal edges 20, thus assuring a secure holding of the jaws in the adjusted position without any undue binding between the portion 26 and the arms 2|. Further movement of the jaw 2| in the same direction will increase the flexing of the arms about the bridge 25 as a flexing point.

It will be apparent that by providing a relatively large friction bearing surface a much lighter friction may be provided for retaining the parts in adjusted position It will be also apparent that a gradual flexing of the arms is had in the construction above described, whereby providing for initially easy relative movement between the jaws when attaching the same to the ear of the wearer.

I claim:

1. An ear clip comprising a bracket having a base adapted to be attached to an ornament which when attached provides a first jaw, said bracket having a post projecting from said base and having opposite parallel surfaces at the outer end portion thereof, a second jaw having spaced resilient arms connected to each other at the outer edge thereof by a bridge, said arms straddling said post and pivotally connected thereto at a position thereon inwardly of said parallel surfaces, each of said arms having a portion thereof extending beyond the lengthwise extent of one end of said bridge to be opposite said surfaces, each of said arms being provided with a pad together engaging said surfaces to cause said arms to flex outwardly along a line from said pivot to said bridge as a fulcrum to provide a frictional engagement between said pads and said surfaces to hold said second jaw in adjusted position on said post.

2. An ear clip as defined in claimv 1 wherein each of said pads is elongated lengthwise of said portions and tapered inwardly towards the pivot.

RICHARD G. GLOSS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 356,225 Dufeu Jan, 18, 1887 1,987,071 Luft Jan. 8, 1935 2,303,287 Goodwin Nov. 24, 1942 2,389,481 Bazner Nov. 20, 1945 2,433,737 Chernow Dec. 30, 1947 2,447,350 Levesque Aug. 7, 1948 2,516,652 .Silverman July 25, 1950 

